Rear axle placement on my '68 Panel - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

3QTRTONS · 03-18-2013, 10:45 PM

Can anyone tell me why the rear wheels on my '68 Panel look like they (and the axle) are an inch or 2 too close to the front of the wheel lip? I have looked at a BUNCH of pics on the Web; some have a similar look but many seem to be just perfectly centered. My Panel is a '68 GMC 1/2 ton 2wd. Any guidance on this would be GREATLY appreciated.......

80SPORT · 03-19-2013, 08:52 AM

Interesting point....it may depend on the angle the picture is taken at as the stock wheels are set in quite far
I will measure mine when the snow retreats and it comes back out

3QTRTONS · 03-19-2013, 08:00 PM

OK,
Here are a couple more pics.... I put a call in to one of the POs, but they haven't called me back yet. Photos 2 & 3 are of the driver side; photo 1 is of the passenger side. I tried to get a straight on shot of each. I'm planning to install a set of wheel well filling tires/wheels but may have to think about resetting the axle back a bit.

capev86 · 03-19-2013, 10:05 PM

don't know what to tell you about your axle, but...

even before i saw your location, i thought i recognized that panel! saw it sitting out on Rte 1 on my way to Owls Head a couple years ago. poor rig needed some SERIOUS rust repair, but hopefully you are on that.

in case you are interested, this years vintage truck/tractor show at the Owls Head Transportation Museum is the 20th/21st. The Boothbay Railway Museum has their gathering the same two days. If I'm up then I will likely do O/H on the Saturday and Boothbay on Sunday because it is closer to my grandma's in Wiscassett and they end the show with a parade through the downtown.

oh yeah, look for my Hawaiian blue 72 Suburban C20!

3QTRTONS · 03-19-2013, 10:21 PM

LOL........... Yup, she IS in need of some sheet metal. I started the parts list today in fact. Planning on having a Booth (selling squarebody parts) @ the Medomak show in May and doing the Truck/Tractor Show @ OH in July. Not sure what stage of repair I'll be in but it IS 'a work in progress'. Also have to replace the front clip - it is currently a '70 chevy but should be a '68 GMC. I take it your '72 doesn't have that 'axle' look?

capev86 · 03-19-2013, 10:25 PM

Quote:

I take it your '72 doesn't have that 'axle' look?

ummm.....no.......

what/where is the Medomak show?

i'm hoping to catch World of Wheels in Boston this weekend, a big swap meet at Stafford Speedway (CT) on 4/14 and another at the Comcast Center in Mansfield (MA) on 5/11. after that is all car shows and i'll be taking the Burb with me of course!

3QTRTONS · 03-19-2013, 10:28 PM

I'm wondering if the axle/suspension has been played with....... May need to add that to the 'fix list'

CG · 03-19-2013, 11:14 PM

Looks like its been messed with to me. Also looks like some one took a couple of shots at it! You have a large sized project on your hands for sure =)

Burb · 03-23-2013, 09:26 AM

Bet that rear body section gets some cross wind with all those bullet holes
Posted via Mobile Device

Burb · 03-23-2013, 09:28 AM

... it's being rusted into a short wheel base ?
Posted via Mobile Device

3QTRTONS · 03-23-2013, 09:27 PM

LOL........

The bullet holes were actually 'Hollywood' created. This Panel was in the Stephen King Movie, "Thinner"...... The holes were created by the Special Effects Crew by placing charge boxes in the interior side of the panel wall. I'll put a photo on the next time I get in the back of her.
Can't wait for the snow to go away so I can get in progress - she has been my buddy's billboard long enough!!!!

barnicle · 03-28-2013, 10:30 AM

I see its gmc is it leaf spring/ single driveline? check to see if someone moved the axle up on the spring to accommodate a to-short drive line.

68panelman · 03-28-2013, 03:48 PM

Got a feeling you have bad/rotted trailing arms. Thats about the only thing that would pull your axle forward. Maybe they were soft and someone decided to jack from that location?.Compressed/worn springs would push the axle to one side.From the pics it looks to be a 69-70, and the one shot shows no leaf springs. My 2 cents Mike.

03-18-2013, 10:45 PM	#1
3QTRTONS Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Warren, ME. Posts: 235	Rear axle placement on my '68 Panel Can anyone tell me why the rear wheels on my '68 Panel look like they (and the axle) are an inch or 2 too close to the front of the wheel lip? I have looked at a BUNCH of pics on the Web; some have a similar look but many seem to be just perfectly centered. My Panel is a '68 GMC 1/2 ton 2wd. Any guidance on this would be GREATLY appreciated....... __________________ 1969 ES5500 B E A S T 1976 K20 Suburban 1983 C10 'farm truck' 1984 K10 Suburban 1988 V30 Fire Truck 1941 Dodge WC18 Ambulance 2000 GMC Bus (parts warehouse)

03-19-2013, 08:52 AM	#2
80SPORT Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: red deer alberta Posts: 777	Re: Rear axle placement on my '68 Panel Interesting point....it may depend on the angle the picture is taken at as the stock wheels are set in quite far I will measure mine when the snow retreats and it comes back out Attached Images

03-19-2013, 08:00 PM	#3
3QTRTONS Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Warren, ME. Posts: 235	Re: Rear axle placement on my '68 Panel OK, Here are a couple more pics.... I put a call in to one of the POs, but they haven't called me back yet. Photos 2 & 3 are of the driver side; photo 1 is of the passenger side. I tried to get a straight on shot of each. I'm planning to install a set of wheel well filling tires/wheels but may have to think about resetting the axle back a bit. __________________ 1969 ES5500 B E A S T 1976 K20 Suburban 1983 C10 'farm truck' 1984 K10 Suburban 1988 V30 Fire Truck 1941 Dodge WC18 Ambulance 2000 GMC Bus (parts warehouse)

03-19-2013, 10:05 PM	#4
capev86 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Eliot, Maine Posts: 1,314	Re: Rear axle placement on my '68 Panel don't know what to tell you about your axle, but... even before i saw your location, i thought i recognized that panel! saw it sitting out on Rte 1 on my way to Owls Head a couple years ago. poor rig needed some SERIOUS rust repair, but hopefully you are on that. in case you are interested, this years vintage truck/tractor show at the Owls Head Transportation Museum is the 20th/21st. The Boothbay Railway Museum has their gathering the same two days. If I'm up then I will likely do O/H on the Saturday and Boothbay on Sunday because it is closer to my grandma's in Wiscassett and they end the show with a parade through the downtown. oh yeah, look for my Hawaiian blue 72 Suburban C20!

03-19-2013, 10:21 PM	#5
3QTRTONS Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Warren, ME. Posts: 235	Re: Rear axle placement on my '68 Panel LOL........... Yup, she IS in need of some sheet metal. I started the parts list today in fact. Planning on having a Booth (selling squarebody parts) @ the Medomak show in May and doing the Truck/Tractor Show @ OH in July. Not sure what stage of repair I'll be in but it IS 'a work in progress'. Also have to replace the front clip - it is currently a '70 chevy but should be a '68 GMC. I take it your '72 doesn't have that 'axle' look? __________________ 1969 ES5500 B E A S T 1976 K20 Suburban 1983 C10 'farm truck' 1984 K10 Suburban 1988 V30 Fire Truck 1941 Dodge WC18 Ambulance 2000 GMC Bus (parts warehouse)

03-19-2013, 10:28 PM	#7
3QTRTONS Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Warren, ME. Posts: 235	Re: Rear axle placement on my '68 Panel I'm wondering if the axle/suspension has been played with....... May need to add that to the 'fix list' __________________ 1969 ES5500 B E A S T 1976 K20 Suburban 1983 C10 'farm truck' 1984 K10 Suburban 1988 V30 Fire Truck 1941 Dodge WC18 Ambulance 2000 GMC Bus (parts warehouse)

03-19-2013, 11:14 PM	#8
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 20,019	Re: Rear axle placement on my '68 Panel Looks like its been messed with to me. Also looks like some one took a couple of shots at it! You have a large sized project on your hands for sure =) __________________ … … … … … … … … ... … … … … … … … … … … …

03-23-2013, 09:26 AM	#9
Burb Coordinator of Synchronicity Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: West of Houston, TX Posts: 437	Re: Rear axle placement on my '68 Panel Bet that rear body section gets some cross wind with all those bullet holes Posted via Mobile Device __________________ Rick 1971 Suburban ... W.I.P. *Build Thread* Customization is ones personal touch-- not what other people think it should be

03-23-2013, 09:28 AM	#10
Burb Coordinator of Synchronicity Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: West of Houston, TX Posts: 437	Re: Rear axle placement on my '68 Panel ... it's being rusted into a short wheel base ? Posted via Mobile Device __________________ Rick 1971 Suburban ... W.I.P. *Build Thread* Customization is ones personal touch-- not what other people think it should be

03-23-2013, 09:27 PM	#11
3QTRTONS Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Warren, ME. Posts: 235	Re: Rear axle placement on my '68 Panel LOL........ The bullet holes were actually 'Hollywood' created. This Panel was in the Stephen King Movie, "Thinner"...... The holes were created by the Special Effects Crew by placing charge boxes in the interior side of the panel wall. I'll put a photo on the next time I get in the back of her. Can't wait for the snow to go away so I can get in progress - she has been my buddy's billboard long enough!!!! __________________ 1969 ES5500 B E A S T 1976 K20 Suburban 1983 C10 'farm truck' 1984 K10 Suburban 1988 V30 Fire Truck 1941 Dodge WC18 Ambulance 2000 GMC Bus (parts warehouse)

03-28-2013, 10:30 AM	#12
barnicle Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: bellingham wa. Posts: 2	Re: Rear axle placement on my '68 Panel I see its gmc is it leaf spring/ single driveline? check to see if someone moved the axle up on the spring to accommodate a to-short drive line.

03-28-2013, 03:48 PM	#13
68panelman Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Delaware and Long Island, New York Posts: 3,456	Re: Rear axle placement on my '68 Panel Got a feeling you have bad/rotted trailing arms. Thats about the only thing that would pull your axle forward. Maybe they were soft and someone decided to jack from that location?.Compressed/worn springs would push the axle to one side.From the pics it looks to be a 69-70, and the one shot shows no leaf springs. My 2 cents Mike.



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